The work presented in this bulletin is in continuation of the plan inaugurated three years ago, which has resulted in two similar publications covering the periods 1904-1906 and 1906-1908 (Bulletin, 1906, No. 3, and Bulletin, 1908, No. 7). In this bulletin an attempt has been made to classify and to analyze the changes wrought in the public school systems of the various States and Territories by the legislative measures enacted during the year, October 1, 1908, to October 1, 1909. Supplementary to this legislative material, there are also included digests of, or citations to, those decisions of the state supreme courts containing important interpretations of statutes relating to public education, or defining in a significant way the functions and status of the public schools. Legislative sessions are biennial in all the States and Territories except in Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and South Carolina, where they are annual, and in Alabama where they are quadrennial. The period selected includes the enactments of the regular session of the legislature in 41 States and Territories. In addition, the acts of extra and special legislative sessions held in several of the States have been examined for measures relative to the public school system. To accomplish the purposes for which the bulletin is immediately intended, in as direct and brief a manner as possible, legislative enactments of the following specific character pertaining to state school systems have been included: (1) All general permanent laws, whether new enactments or amendments to general permanent laws already in force; (2) Constitutional amendments, adopted or proposed, whether general or local in their effect; (3) Laws resulting in significant changes in the organization and administration of public education in the larger and more important cities of each State, even when general in form and special in application; provisions of new municipal charters; and amendments to existing charters; (4) Laws authorizing special appropriation for the establishment of a new educational institution or class of institutions, and extraordinary appropriations of wide general interest; and (5) Laws relating to the general administration, control, and management of particular state educational institutions. Individual sections contain footnotes. An index is included. [Best copy available has been provided.]